Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread
This Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread is loaded with melty cheese, fresh pesto, and golden baked layers that pull apart effortlessly. A fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that’s perfect for parties, game day, or any cozy gathering!
Pesto Pesto Bread
This Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast – like really fast. Every bite is loaded with melty cheese, garlicky pesto, and golden, toasty bread that’s crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. It’s one of those recipes that looks impressive but couldn’t be easier to make – just slice, stuff, bake, and watch it work its magic.
It’s also perfect for entertaining because it’s fun, shareable, and totally irresistible. Whether you’re hosting game night, a holiday party, or just having friends over for dinner, this bread brings everyone to the table (and keeps them hovering near the pan).
Reasons to love this pull-apart bread:
- Melty, gooey cheese — every bite is packed with irresistible cheesy goodness.
- Bursting with pesto flavor — the herby, garlicky sauce seeps into every nook of the bread.
- Crispy outside, soft inside — the perfect texture combo that makes it impossible to stop eating.
- So easy to make — just slice, stuff, and bake—no fancy skills required (but our Chewy French Bread is simple to keep hand in the freezer).
- Customizable — try different cheeses, add sun-dried tomatoes, or sprinkle red pepper flakes for a kick.
What You’ll Need:
- Bread – While I use my Chewy French Bread recipe, you could use any store-bought bread.
- Pesto Sauce – We love using our Homemade Basil Pesto Sauce, store-bought sauce is fine too.
- Cheese – We used parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese but any combo of cheese will work.
How to make Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread:
Step 1
Make pesto sauce. Make homemade basil pesto sauce or use store-bought. Our homemade recipe freezes well if you’d like to make it in advance.
Step 2
Shred cheese. You can either use sliced cheese or shred it yourself. Stay away from pre-shredded cheese.
Step 3
Prep bread. Slice crusty bread in one-inch chunks, slicing in both directions. But DON’T SLICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. You want the loaf to stay in tact while baking. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4
Add toppings to bread. Spoon some pesto sauce in all the crevices of the bread, attempting to get some way down in the cracks of the bread. Then use your fingers to add as much cheese in the crevices as well, trying to get some into every inch of the bread. As the bread gets full, you’ll need to be careful to avoid breaking it apart.
Step 5
Add foil. Carefully place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the bread. Don’t let the foil touch the cheese, if possible.
Step 6
Bake. Bake pesto pull-apart bread for 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F, and then remove foil and bake uncovered for a few minutes to crisp it up
Step 7
Serve. Enjoy party bread alongside a meal or as an appetizer with your favorite cocktails and mocktails.
What to serve with cheesy pesto bread:
- Cocktails – Try our Grapefruit Gin Cocktails, Limoncello Mules, or Pineapple Coconut Margaritas.
- Mocktails – For a non-alcoholic drink, how about Raspberry Mocktails, Strawberry Mojito Mocktails, or Blueberry Mocktails.
- Side to any main dish. Serve it with our favorite Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs, Lasagna Roll Ups with Cottage Cheese, or Lemon Ricotta Pasta.
Recipe Tips:
- Keep some French bread in your freezer at all times. I take my mom’s recipe, and instead of using French bread loaf pans, I make a couple loafs in my cast iron skillets.
- Make up a double batch of pesto sauce, and freeze small portions for when you need it. BTW, when you freeze pesto sauce, the colors don’t stay as vibrant, but the taste is still wonderful.
- Keep a few kinds of cheese handy in your refrigerator. I used mozzarella and parmesan, but any variety that you prefer would be just as good.
Recipe FAQs:
A round loaf of sourdough or Italian bread works great—it’s sturdy enough to hold all the cheese and pesto without falling apart.
Mozzarella melts beautifully, but adding a little provolone or parmesan gives extra flavor and stretch.
Yes, store-bought pesto works perfectly, but if you have homemade on hand, even better.
Yes, assemble it up to a few hours ahead, cover tightly, and bake right before serving.
It’s perfect with soups, salads, or pasta—or just enjoy it as a fun, cheesy appetizer everyone can pull apart and share!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium French bread or sourdough loaf – cut into a checkerboard
- 1 cup pesto sauce – my homemade versions are on this site
- 10 oz shredded mozzarella cheese – or more
- 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Make pesto sauce. Make homemade basil pesto sauce or use store-bought. Our homemade recipe freezes well if you’d like to make it in advance.
- Shred cheese. You can either use sliced cheese or shred it yourself. Stay away from pre-shredded cheese.
- Prep bread. Slice crusty bread in one-inch chunks, slicing in both directions. But DON’T SLICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. You want the loaf to stay in tact while baking. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.1 medium French bread or sourdough loaf
- Add toppings to bread. Spoon some pesto sauce in all the crevices of the bread, attempting to get some way down in the cracks of the bread. Then use your fingers to add as much cheese in the crevices as well, trying to get some into every inch of the bread. As the bread gets full, you’ll need to be careful to avoid breaking it apart.Add some freshly ground black pepper on top, as desired.1 cup pesto sauce, 10 oz shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese, freshly ground black pepper
- Add foil. Carefully place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the bread. Don’t let the foil touch the cheese, if possible.
- Bake. Bake pesto party bread for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F, and then remove foil and bake uncovered for a few minutes to slightly brown the cheese.
- Serve. Enjoy party bread alongside a meal or as an appetizer with your favorite cocktails and mocktails.
Notes
- When cutting the bread in chunks, be careful to NOT cut all the way through the bread. You want it to stay in tact.
- Using homemade pesto sauce is best, but store bought is ok too.
- You can use a variety of different cheeses, according to whatever you like best.
- Using a foil tent during part of the baking time will ensure the cheese doesn’t burn. Just watch it carefully.
This bread was a perfect snack for our NYE party! Huge hit with all our friends! I used a jar of your homemade pesto recipe that I had stored in my freezer, so this bread was so quick and easy to make. Will definitely be making again!
Oh this makes me happy! Thanks for letting me know, Brynn!
What an awesome idea/recipe. Plus, the name is perfect for me. I love Cheesy. I love Pesto. I love Party. I love Bread! So, I must love Cheesy Pesto Party Bread!